Overview

Applicants
2,733
Acceptance Rate
43%
Median Undergrad GPA
3.55
Accepted Applicants Who Attend
252

Test Scores

LSAT
25th-75th percentile
(enrolled students)
150 - 158

Deadlines

Application Deadlines
April 30

Application Process

Rolling Admissions
Yes

Application Fee
$60

CAS Service Used
Yes

Applicants accepted in terms other than fall
No

Transfer Applicants Accepted
Yes

Deferred Admission
Yes

Other Admission Factors

Academic

LSAT Score
Undergraduate GPA
Essay / Personal Statement

Selectivity Rating

Faculty Information

Student/Faculty
14:1
Total Faculty
182

35
Female


Students Say

When students at Michigan State University say their school offers 鈥渢he best of both worlds,鈥 they really mean it. As a private school affiliated with a large public institution, MSU Law offers 鈥渁 small academic community where professors remember and really take an interest in their students,鈥 while simultaneously providing 鈥渁ccess to all the benefits of a world-class Big Ten university.鈥 The school maintains an accomplished faculty, and 鈥渢he professors have, for the most part, attended top schools and have great experience to share.鈥 鈥淲hile all the professors have their own research and other legal work, the emphasis is on teaching鈥 at MSU. Of course, 鈥測ou鈥檒l have some professors that are better than others,鈥 but the majority are engaging and student-friendly. If you visit them during office hours or linger around after class, many professors will 鈥渢alk about work experience, research they've done, [and] interesting cases they've worked on. Some of them will connect on a more personal level鈥 and talk 鈥渁bout their families or cool places they have visited.鈥
The JD curriculum is 鈥渜uite rigorous,鈥 and 鈥測ou have to be willing to put in the work to get the results鈥; however, MSU invests in its students鈥 success. One student explains, 鈥淭he law college is good at providing academic resources for students such as labs, advisement, and TAs for 1Ls.鈥 In the library, 鈥渢he research librarians are great at helping students find what they are looking for,鈥 as well as keeping the noise levels reasonable during exams. Highly student-friendly, the law school鈥檚 administration is praised for their efficiency, friendliness, and contemporary approach to education, especially the school鈥檚 鈥済reat Dean, who understands the current legal market and the changing legal education system.鈥 Throughout departments and processes, 鈥渢he administration at MSU is actively involved in making sure you receive a high-quality legal education,鈥 and they 鈥済enuinely want to connect with students.鈥 For example, 鈥渢he deans have a free lunch meeting once a month where they explain what is going on in the school and let students ask questions.鈥
There are many ways to put your legal skills into practice at MSU, including the school鈥檚 鈥渆xcellent Moot Court and Law Review opportunities.鈥 Of particular note, 鈥渢he emphasis on clinical experience and expansion of the clinical programs at MSU College of Law is second to none.鈥 Depending on your area of interest, 鈥渢here are about seven or eight different clinics that 2Ls and 3Ls can enroll in, ranging from Tax and Housing to Chance at Childhood and Plea and Sentencing.鈥 Alternatively, MSU鈥檚 鈥済eographic location (adjacent to the state capitol, Lansing) enables students to pursue a variety of internand externships in lieu of the offered clinics.鈥 Those interested in government work can augment these experiences through the school鈥檚 popular 鈥渟emester in Washington, D.C.,鈥 which combines professional experience at a federal agency coupled with the ongoing course work at MSU.
After graduation, students looking for work in Michigan appreciate the school鈥檚 great local reputation. Propitiously located in the capital city of Lansing, 鈥渢here are a lot of opportunities for work within a few miles of school,鈥 particularly for those interested in government-related positions. For those planning to practice outside of the Great Lakes state, note the words of one student in particular who affirms that 鈥渃areer services is an extremely useful department for in-state students. However, more could be done to improve the ability of out-of-state students to obtain internships and externships.鈥

Career overview

Pass Rate for First-Time Bar Exam
80%

Career Services

On campus summer employment recruitment for first year JD students
No

On campus summer employment recruitment for second year JD students
Yes

# of Employers that Recruit on Campus Each Year
35

Employers who most frequently hire graduates
Dykema Gossett Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss Clark Hill Michigan Court of Appeals Honigman Miller Schwartz & Cohn Miller Canfield Paddock & Stone Warner Norcross & Judd Varnum Riddering Schmidt & Howlett Bodman, LLP Foster Swift Collins & Smith City of Chicago Law Department Plunkett & Cooney

Graduates Employed by Area

34%
Private Practice
24%
Business/Industry
13%
Government
12%
Public Interes
6%
Judicial Clerkships
6%
Academic

Graduates Employed by Region

31%
South
24%
Mid-Atlantic
14%
South West
13%
Mountain
13%
Pacific
9%
International
2%
New England

Prominent Alumni

Dennis Archer
Leadership

Geoffrey Fieger
Trial Lawyer

Marrianne Battani
U.S. District

Clif Haley
Corporate Law

Bernard Friedman
U.S. District

Dates

Financial Aid Rating
Apr 1

Financial Aid Statistics

Average Annual Total Aid Package Awarded
$43,351

% Students Receiving Some Aid
86%

Expenses per Academic Year

Tuition
$37,294
Estimated On-Campus Room and Board
$5,397
Estimated Off-Campus Room and Board
$5,397
Estimated Cost for Books / Academic Expense
$1,506
Fees
$28

Student Body Profile

Total Enrollment
791
Parent Institution Enrollement
50,085

Number of Foreign Countries Represented
19

% Out-of-State
52%
% International
6%

Demographics

17.90%
% Under-represented Minorities

72% are full time
28% are part time
46% female
54% male

Campus Life

Students Say

Those looking for a lively, well-rounded law school experience will be happy with the atmosphere at MSU. There is 鈥済reat cooperative attitude among all students,鈥 and no lack of activities and events to fill up their free time. Between the law school and the larger university campus, there is 鈥渁 wide range of extracurricular activities and organizations, from access to intramural sports through the university to law-student-specific groups that encompass just about every background, interest, and practice area.鈥 Students love attending college football games with their classmates, and they take advantage of the myriad fitness and recreational facilities on campus. Among other perks, 鈥渢here are two golf courses on campus, and the driving range is heated so you can hit a bucket late into fall or early in spring.鈥
The law school is located in an 鈥渆xcellent building,鈥 which is 鈥渘ewly renovated with wireless throughout.鈥 In addition to nice study spaces and common areas, 鈥渢here are private study rooms for groups that can be reserved in advance.鈥 Plus, 鈥淪party鈥檚, the cafe in the law school, is a great spot to get caffeine before late nights or long classes.鈥 Located in a bustling 鈥渃ollege town,鈥 law students benefit from an affordable and relaxed lifestyle in hometown Lansing. When they need a change of scenery, 鈥淓. Lansing and Lansing offer a wide range of cuisines and other activities that don鈥檛 have to revolve around the school.鈥

More Information

% of Classrooms with Internet Access
100%

Admissions Office Contact

Contact
Charles Roboski
Assistant Dean, Admissions and Financial Aid

Address
300 Law College Building
East Lansing, MI 48824-1300

Phone
(517) 432-0222

Email
admiss@law.msu.edu


Articles & Advice